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reactor

re-ak-tor/re.akˈtoɾ/

“reactor” means “jet engine” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

jet engine

Also: jet, turbine
NounmB1
A powerful jet engine attached to the wing of a plane.

📝 In Action

El avión tiene cuatro reactores potentes.

A2

The plane has four powerful jet engines.

Escuchamos el ruido del reactor antes de despegar.

B1

We heard the sound of the jet engine before taking off.

La compañía compró un nuevo reactor para vuelos ejecutivos.

B2

The company bought a new jet for executive flights.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • turbina (turbine)
  • motor (motor/engine)

Antonyms

  • hélice (propeller)

Common Collocations

  • avión de reactor – jet plane
  • motor de reactor – jet engine
  • propulsión a chorro – jet propulsion

reactor

NounmB2formal
A large industrial dome structure representing a nuclear reactor.

📝 In Action

El reactor nuclear produce energía para toda la ciudad.

B1

The nuclear reactor produces energy for the whole city.

Los científicos están probando un nuevo reactor químico.

B2

The scientists are testing a new chemical reactor.

Hay estrictas medidas de seguridad dentro del reactor.

C1

There are strict security measures inside the reactor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pila (atomic pile (old term))

Common Collocations

  • reactor nuclear – nuclear reactor
  • reactor de fusión – fusion reactor
  • núcleo del reactor – reactor core

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "reactor" in Spanish:

jet→jet engine→reactor→turbine→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: reactor

Question 1 of 3

What is the plural form of 'el reactor'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
reacción(reaction) — Noun
reaccionar(to react) — Verb
reactivo(reactive) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'reactus' (the act of doing back), combined with the suffix '-tor' which indicates a person or thing that performs an action.

First recorded: 20th century (modern technical usage)

Cognates (Related words)

French: réacteurItalian: reattore

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'reactor' mean the same thing as 'jet'?

Yes, in many contexts. It can refer specifically to the engine (jet engine) or the entire aircraft (a jet).

Is it 'el reactor' or 'la reactor'?

It is always 'el reactor'. It is a masculine noun.

Can I use 'reactor' for a car engine?

No, for a car you should use the word 'motor'. 'Reactor' is reserved for jet engines or scientific equipment.